Interstate 80 and Highway 50 among closures as snow buries Northern California
Interstate highways have been shut down by authorities as snow continues to dump on the Sierra Nevada.
Whiteout conditions prompted the California Department of Transportation to shut down traffic in both directions on Interstate 80 from Colfax to the Nevada state line, according to a social media post from the department.
The California Highway Patrol announced on social media the closures of Highway 50 and Highway 88 due to the storm. Highway 50 was closed from Point View Drive in Placerville to Meyers in El Dorado County because of spinouts. State Route 88 was closed from Dew Drop in Amador County to five miles west of Picketts Junction in Alpine County.
There are no estimated times to reopen the closures, as of 4:15 p.m. Tuesday.
When are the storms supposed to pass?
The winter storm warning remains in effect until Thursday evening, according to the National Weather Service’s Sacramento office.
Snow accumulation was forecast to taper off Tuesday evening before returning Wednesday morning. Heavy snow was expected to intensify Wednesday night through Thursday morning.
After a brief break, rain and heavy snowfall were expected to return Saturday night. It said the snow level could reach as low as 1,000 feet of elevation. Cities including Auburn and Cameron Park sit at around 1,200 feet of elevation, but it is unclear where the snow may fall.
This story was originally published February 17, 2026 at 5:26 PM with the headline "Interstate 80 and Highway 50 among closures as snow buries Northern California."
